UNDP, UNEP and IUCN hold technical training workshop in Lunahuaná, Peru, on uses and applications of the tool CRiSTAL

16 October 2012 | News story

Information was provided on concepts, uses and applications of CRISTAL in the frame of the Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation project (ABE Peru) jointly implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and Ministry of Environment of Peru.

Peru, September 2012 (IUCN) – With the participation of professionals, technicians and officials of the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM), National Water Authority (ANA), National Protected Areas Service, Nor-Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve, UNDP, UNEP and IUCN South America connected with the ABE Peru project held a training workshop September 12-14 in Lunahuná, Peru, on conceptual and methodological aspects in applying and using CRiSTAL to plan and manage projects focused explicitly on key climate change issues, identification of climate threats and impact on community livelihoods.

CRiSTAL is a tool designed through the joint efforts of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI-US), Inter-cooperation and IUCN to support decision making on climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in communities, taking into account the Environmental Impact Assessment and Sustainable Livelihoods model. It was emphasized that use of this tool enables a logical and easily applied process to better understand the connections between climate-related risks, livelihoods of individuals or communities and the activities of a project.

Funded by BMU Germany, the Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation project is being implemented in parallel fashion in Peru, Nepal and Uganda, under the responsibility of UNDP, UNEP and IUCN. In Peru the project covers the Nor-Yauyos Cochas Landscape Reserve located in the Lima and Junín regions, in the upper Cañete and Mantaro River basins, and is aimed at strengthening Peru’s capacities to implement Adaptation options based on Ecosystems (AbE) and reducing community vulnerability, with a special emphasis on mountain ecosystems. Specifically, the project will support: (i) the development of methodologies and tools for AbE in mountain ecosystems; (ii) application of these tools and methodologies at the national level; (iii) implementation of AbE pilot projects at the ecosystems level; and (iv) formulation of national policies and preparation of an economic argument for AbE at the national level.

Presentation on conceptual aspects of CRiSTAL

In this sense, the project will create opportunities for experimental learning between regions and countries, as well as within the same region. Parallel and cooperative development will shorten the learning curve for local and national institutions with respect to the application of methodologies and tools and implementation of pilot projects, while speeding up transfer of knowledge and experiences to build ecosystem flexibility.

The IUCN Mesoamerica Livelihoods and Climate Change unit presented examples of CRiSTAL applications in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama to demonstrate methodology in the field and subsequent use of the spreadsheet. Other experiences in CRiSTAL applications in the Andean region were provided by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Peru, along with the combined application of CRiSTAL and CVCA in projects implemented by CARE Peru.

This workshop showed in detail how the features of this tool permit the participatory generation of a comprehensive vision in order to promote climate change adaptation measures in different projects and spheres of intervention.

At its conclusion, UNEP scientific advisor for the project, Pablo Douronjeanni, said, “We knew about CRiSTAL and were interested in applying the tool, but needed training like what we received; so this workshop seemed very good to us, and very beneficial for understanding the logic of the tool and being able to apply it afterwards.”

This is another demonstration of IUCN’s ONE PROGRAMME approach, in which personnel from the Mesoamerica and Caribbean Initiative worked in close collaboration with IUCN SOUTH in the frame of a global IUCN project executed under the Ecosystem Management Program. The knowledge applied has been implemented in different projects and initiatives in the Mesoamerican region within the frame of the IUCN Water and Nature Initiative (WANI) working together with the IUCN’s Global Water Program.